Bowers back at opportune time
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers tried to give their ailing pass rush a boost Thursday, activating DE Da'Quan Bowers from the physically unable to perform list just hours before kicking off against the Minnesota Vikings.

The move marked the end of an arduous but remarkable four-month long journey back from a torn right Achilles tendon injury Bowers suffered during an offseason workout at One Buc Place in May.

The return of Bowers, a second-round pick out of Clemson who started the last six games of his rookie season a year ago and finished the year with 30 tackles, 1.5 sacks and five tackles for loss, came not a moment too soon.

The Bucs pass rush has been struggling to get to quarterbacks ever since RDE Adrian Clayborn went down with a season-ending knee injury in Week 3, recording just two sacks in the last three games combined.

With Clayborn, their reigning sack leader, out, Bucs LDE Michael Bennett and DT Gerald McCoy have faced increased attention on passing downs, limiting the Bucs to no sacks in either of their last two games.

The addition of Bowers, who worked at right end on third down Thursday, figures to improve the unit's performance. Though he was slowed by offseason knee surgery, Bowers was considered the premier edge rusher coming out of college last year.

To make room for Bowers on the roster the Bucs released CB Lequan Lewis. Lewis was signed last week after the team releaeed DE Markus White, who was re-signed to the practice squad.

About the writer
Roy Cummings has been The Tampa Tribune's primary Buccaneer beat writer for many years now and has a knowledge of the current players that is unsurpassed amongst local reporters. He also appears on Channel 8's news broadcasts on stories about the Bucs. He came to London with the Bucs in 2009 and was at Richmond Park to be part of the Bucs UK's most memorable day when the club took on the UK Patriots at touch football in front of many Bucs alumni and club officials.